In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements:
1. Passing on mitochondrial diseases from parent to child can be prevented by mitochondrial replacement therapy either before or after in vitro fertilization of the egg.
2. A child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from the mother and not from the father.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer:
(c)
Non-traditional
CA
The technological development allows nearly complete replacement of the cytoplasm of egg/embryo, eliminating the transmission of undesired defective mitochondria for patients with inherited mitochondrial diseases, which is called mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT). These processes use assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization. The father’s sperm can fertilize the patient egg before the maternal genetic material is removed or after the maternal genetic material has been transferred to the donor egg. Hence, statement 1 is correct. Mitochondrial diseases are chronic (long-term), genetic, often inherited disorders that occur when mitochondria fail to produce enough energy for the body to function properly. As the mitochondrial genome is inherited exclusively from the mother, the child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from mother and not from father. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.